Strategic Planning

Larry Humes

Any effective action begins with a good plan. Too often, marketing and public relations activities, although well meaning, are not aligned with an institution's mission and key objectives. We can lead your school through the planning process in developing and executing a strategic marketing plan designed to achieve key outcomes. Services include: institutional analysis, market research (internal & external), metrics for measuring program success, and building campus consensus in accepting communication objectives.

Media Relations & Crisis Management
The key to effective media relations is in building relationships. A former journalist with extensive experience in garnering national publicity and managing crisis, Larry Humes can assist your staff in developing key relationships to help enhance and position your school's institutional identity. From the writing of press releases and the creation of media crisis plans to orchestrating special events and national media tours, we can create a media relations program designed to produce effective results. Larry can also advise your staff if your institution is suddenly faced with a communication crisis.

Market Positioning & Brand Enhancement
Your institution's brand is, quite simply, what it is known for. How would an average resident of your community define your school? And what factors differentiate it from your primary competitors? We can help you identify your target audiences and develop key themes and messages that effectively position your institution. We can assist you in creating an integrated marketing plan (including advertising, direct mail, graphic identity, and media relations) that will position and enhance your institutional identity.

Staff Coaching & Mentoring
Any consultant's success in helping a college achieve its goals is predicated on his or her ability to effectively instruct and motivate an institution's internal staff. Our proven methodologies will provide your staff the tools they need to design and implement an effective communications plan. Services include: individual and group training in all aspects of marketing, communications and marketing, ongoing assessment of all printed and electronic materials, media training for campus leaders, and ongoing problem solving.